Trailblazers 2009contacts and networking opportunities into the future – as well as enthusiastic public audiences at the Festival itself. We look forward to seeing our 2009 Trailblazers

Trailblazers2009

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Introduction 1

Forewords 2

Skillset Screen Academy Network 3

The Trailblazers 4

Screenings and Events 5

Trailblazer Biographies 6–20

EIFF funders:

Media Partner:


Introduction

We’re delighted to introduce you to this year’s Trailblazers –twenty-five individuals selected by Edinburgh International FilmFestival (EIFF) as emerging talent, who have produced some ofthe most innovative and outstanding work this year.

2009 marks the third year of Trailblazers – a joint initiativebetween EIFF and Skillset, born out of a shared commitment toencouraging, developing and promoting new filmmaking talent.

Ten Trailblazers selected from the British features in the EIFFprogramme have their films in this year’s Festival, whilst fifteenTrailblazers from Skillset’s Screen Academy Network areshowcasing an eclectic mix of short films. It is fantastic for us to welcome back some returning Trailblazers,including actor Nichola Burley and cinematographer Eduard Grauwith K I C K S, and cinematographer Lol Crawley with the featurefilm Wasted and the short You're the Stranger Here.

Read on to find out more about the Trailblazers themselves andwhen and where you can see their work.

Introduction

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RUNNING IN TRAFFIC

THE CALLING

CRYING WITH LAUGHTER

CAPTURING SPACE SWEET MOTHER (BELOW)

Trailblazers:Trailblazers 09/06/2009 10:00 Page 1

Foreword from Hannah McGill,Artistic Director, EIFF

Established in 2007, Trailblazers is the EIFF’s flagship talentshowcase, on which we are proud and happy to collaborate withSkillset. We choose our Trailblazers from the EIFF’s featureprogramme, and from selected new work submitted to us by theUK’s Skillset Screen Academies, which is screened in theFestival’s Trailblazing Shorts programme.

We seek by this selection to provide a snapshot of the range ofwork currently being produced by UK and UK-trained talent, andto ensure that our chosen individuals are presented with everyopportunity to forward their careers via the Festival’s structuresand services. This year, we’re delighted by the work that we haveseen and by the potential obviously inherent in this set of up-and-coming talent. Whether triumphing in the true labour of lovethat is shoestring-budget independent production, confidentlyblurring the lines of genre divisions and audience expectations,or simply executing the kind of performance that screams ‘starin the making’, these individuals have all distinguishedthemselves to a particularly high standard in 2009.

The aim of EIFF as a festival of discovery is to be generative ratherthan merely responsive: we don’t just want to screen films, wewant positive change and new artistic endeavours to be born as aresult. That means aiding our filmmakers to secure publicity,contacts and networking opportunities into the future – as well asenthusiastic public audiences at the Festival itself. We lookforward to seeing our 2009 Trailblazers benefit from theseopportunities, and we congratulate them all warmly on their work.

Foreword from Neil Peplow,Director of Film, Skillset

Skillset recognises Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) as a place where year-on-year great discoveriesare made. Therefore it is no surprise to see the Festival as theperfect place to herald the arrival of exciting new talent.

Skillset first joined forces with the EIFF in 2007 to establishTrailblazers. It is a terrific opportunity for the Trailblazers asthey are introduced to the festival circuit, given the chance toforge professional relationships and really raise their profilesboth here and abroad.

The Skillset Screen Academies are film schools identified by the UK industry as centres of excellence in film training andeducation. One of Skillset’s aims is to develop closer linksbetween education and industry. The Skillset Academies bring in practising industry professionals as tutors and guestlecturers, and by passing on their knowledge and expertise tothe students, their graduates leave ready to hit the groundrunning. Trailblazers is a chance for the industry and public tosee the innovative and high quality work the students produce.

As a testament to the quality of the participants, previousTrailblazers have gone on to secure representation and furtherwork as a direct result of their time here in Edinburgh.

Great partnerships are based on shared strategic goals, and soour relationship with EIFF continues to grow from strength-to-strength. I thank the Festival for its support and I hope you enjoythe work of this year’s Trailblazers.

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Forewords


Skillset Screen Academy NetworkThe Skillset Screen Academy Network was launched in 2005.The Academies were approved by the UK film industry ascentres of excellence in film education and training.

Skillset Screen Academies have beenapproved by the UK film industry asproviding the best film training andeducation available. Academy statusprovides the institutions with additionalresources and support to ensure they can respond to the training needs of the industry.

The network is made up of six SkillsetScreen Academies (film schools) and the Film Business Academy at CassBusiness School.

Within the Network all the skill areas arecovered, from craft and technical grades,to design and management at further andhigher education level. Skillset ScreenAcademies also offer short courses todevelop professionals already in theindustry.

The Skillset Screen Academies are:

• Bournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy

• Edinburgh Skillset Screen andMedia Academy

• The London Film School, A SkillsetScreen Academy

• National Film and Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy

• Skillset Screen Academy at LCC & EIM

• Skillset Screen Academy Wales

And

• Film Business Academy at CassBusiness School, A Skillset Screen Academy

Skillset Screen Academ

y Netw

ork

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Developingthe brightestand best ofUK film talent

*For more information about the Skillset ScreenAcademy Network:

VISITwww.skillset.org/academies

CALL020 7713 9800


The Trailblazers

Shehzad Afzal:Producer, DOWN THE RABBIT HOLEEdinburgh Skillset Screen andMedia Academy

Emily Beecham: Actor, THE CALLING

David Bell:Writer/Director/Producer/Animator, TOYBournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy

Erik Bostedt:Director, CAPTURING SPACE The London Film School, A Skillset Screen Academy

Leigh Campbell: Screenwriter, K I C K S

Stuart Earl:Composer, BY THE GRACE OF GODNational Film and Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy

Michelle Eastwood:Producer, BY THE GRACE OF GODNational Film and Television School, ASkillset Screen & Media Academy

Robert Evans: Animator, CRESCENDOSkillset Screen Academy Wales

Lawrence Gough: Director, SALVAGE

Kerrie Hayes: Actor, K I C K S

Stuart Hazeldine:Writer/Director/Producer, EXAM

Katie Jarvis: Actor, FISH TANK

Gerard Johnson:Writer/Director, TONY

Tatiana Korol:Writer/Director, AKBULAKSkillset Screen Academy at LCC & EIM

Bryan Larkin:Actor/Writer, RUNNING IN TRAFFIC

Justin Molotnikov:Director, CRYING WITH LAUGHTER

Michael O'Sullivan:Animator, CRESCENDO Skillset Screen Academy Wales

Eva Pervolovici: Director, DOWN THE RABBIT HOLEEdinburgh Skillset Screen andMedia Academy

Ralitza Petrova:Director, BY THE GRACE OF GODNational Film and Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy

Amy Rose:Director, KIRRAN AND THE HATCHMAKEREdinburgh Skillset Screen andMedia Academy

Kasia Sobocinska:Director of Photography, AKBULAKSkillset Screen Academy at LCC & EIM

Vanessa Stockley: Director/Director ofPhotography, EMMA & BENNational Film and Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy

Mikael Svartdahl:Editor, EMMA & BENNational Film and Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy

Momodou Musa Touray:Director, SWEET MOTHERBournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy

Kyle Ward:Actor, A BOY CALLED DAD

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The Trailblazers

FISH TANK EXAM


Screenings andEvents:

Trailblazing Shorts Industry ScreeningSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1

Public ScreeningMon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

Public ScreeningTue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

A Boy Called DadBritish Gala World PremiereThu 18 June: 20:15 CINEWORLDSat 20 June: 18:30 CINEWORLD

The CallingBritish Gala World PremiereSun 21 June: 21:15 CINEWORLDMon 22 June: 19:30 FILMHOUSE 2

Crying with LaughterBritish Gala World PremiereSun 21 June: 20.00 FILMHOUSE 1Fri 26 June: 21:30 FILMHOUSE 3

ExamNight Moves World PremiereFri 19 June: 22:15 FILMHOUSE 1

Fish TankBritish Gala UK PremiereSun 21 June: 20:15 CAMEO 1Wed 24 June: 15:00 CAMEO 1

K I C K SBritish Gala World PremiereSat 20 June: 21:30 CINEWORLDFri 26 June: 20:15 FILMHOUSE 2

Running in TrafficBritish Gala World PremiereMon 22 June: 21:15 CINEWORLDFri 26 June: 21:00 CINEWORLD

SalvageNight Moves World PremiereSun 21 June: 22:15 FILMHOUSE 1

TonyUnder The Radar World PremiereThu 18 June: 22:00 FILMHOUSE 2

Events:Meera Syal: Skillset In PersonMon 22 June: 16:30 FILMHOUSE 1

Screenings and Events

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BY THE GRACE OF GOD TONY SALVAGE


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A

Trailblazer Biographies

Shehzad Afzal [email protected] www.filmedup.com

Shehzad Afzal, a multi-arts practitioner,started his film career after completing ascreenwriting course at AbertayUniversity in 2004, writing and directing agraduation piece and winning Best ShortFilm. Selected for his screenwritingabilities, Shehzad took part in the world’sfirst think tank on Video Game Narrativeat IC-CAVE, Abertay University. Shehzadwas also selected for an internationalVideo Game Design competition final inDubai, UAE, winning an internationalrunner-up prize in 2005 and 2007 – theonly participant to have been selected forthe finals twice in the competition’shistory.

Shehzad’s first documentary film, BoKata, premiered in February 2007 thenscreened across Scotland. The film

looked at the sub-culture of the KiteDuelists and the industry surrounding it in Lahore, Pakistan. Bo Kata wasnominated for Best Film 2007 for theprestigious Satyajit Ray Film FoundationAward. Recent projects include Vanille, a short fiction drama, shot in Paris andproduced in collaboration with ScreenAcademy Scotland and Screen AcademyWales, the first ever collaboration of itskind in the UK.

Shehzad is currently studying part-timefor a MA in Screen Project Developmentat Screen Academy Scotland at EdinburghNapier University.

Trailblazer BiographiesHere are the new Trailblazers, selected in 2009 as thebrightest and best talent emerging from the SkillsetScreen Academy Network and the British features inthe EIFF Programme. We’ll be eagerly watching howtheir careers develop and here you can learn moreabout them.

Down the Rabbit Hole (Producer)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

Edinburgh Skillset Screen and Media Academy


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Emily studied at The London Academy ofMusic & Dramatic Art. Whilst there shewas offered and went on to play the leadin the ITV thriller Bon Voyage.

Since then she has worked extensively intelevision, film and theatre. Filmsinclude: 28 Weeks Later alongside RobertCarlyle and Rise of the Footsoldier.Television includes: Tess of theD’ubervilles (BBC1), Unforgiven (ITV),Party Animals (BBC2), Miss Marple (ITV).Most recently Emily played a leading partin the BAFTA Award winning JimmyMcGovern series The Street (ITV).

Emily also writes and performs comedyin a zany double act called The Timecats.They will be performing at the LatitudeFestival this year and the Pleasance 2010in conjunction with Phil McIntyreEntertainment.

Emily Beecham [email protected]

The Calling (Actor)Sun 21 June: 21.15 CINEWORLDMon 22 June: 19.30 FILMHOUSE 2

THE CALLING


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Erik Bostedt [email protected]

After graduating from university inSweden in 1999, Erik Bostedt venturedinto feature filmmaking as a productionassistant. To make a living he thenworked as a business consultant andproject manager in New York City,Stockholm and Paris. He returned to fulltime filmmaking as a student at theLondon Film School in 2007. CapturingSpace is his debut festival release as adirector. He is currently in pre-productionas the writer and director of a fictionshort, set in London. He graduates fromthe MA Filmmaking programme inDecember 2009.

Capturing Space (Director)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

The London Film School, A Skillset Screen Academy

CAPTURING SPACE

David Bell [email protected]

David Bell is an Edinburgh basedanimator and illustrator. His short film,Toy, was created during his BA (Hons)degree at the NCCA in Bournemouth.Originally from a traditional drawingbackground, Toy demonstrates his uniquestyle of merging 2D and 3D animationtechniques. Having graduated, David hasnow set up his own design studio, Hoptic,in Edinburgh, which specialises ininteractive design and animation.

Bournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy

TOY

Toy (Writer/Director/Producer/Animator)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1


C-E


9Leigh Campbell [email protected]

K I C K SThis feature film has been made underthe Digital Departures scheme in 2008. Itwas funded by BBC Films, the UK FilmCouncil and Liverpool's Culture Company.

Director: Lindy Heymann. Stars: Kerrie Hayes and Nichola Burley.

The CharactersThis Radio Play was long listed for Radio4 Alfred Bradley competition.

Unhinged Short made under the UK Film Council’sDigital Shorts scheme. It was North WestVision and Media's most commercialshort film.

Director: Noreen Kershaw. Stars: Ian Hart.

Big Stella Little StellaLeigh won development funding for thisfeature script at a pitching competition inCannes. It has had further developmentfrom North West Vision and Media.

K I C K S (Screenwriter)Sat 20 June: 21:30 CINEWORLDFri 26 June: 20:15 FILMHOUSE 2

Stuart Earl [email protected]

Stuart has been involved with performingand creating music since an early age,gaining a great deal of experience incomposing, arranging and performing.He studied music at Oxford University andwon the Smith Award for OutstandingContribution to Music. He then went on to study a MA in Post Production,specialising in composing, atBournemouth University. As a composerhe draws from a strong interest in abroad range of different musical stylesand genres. He has written music forshort films, animations, documentaries,television commercials, idents, and artinstallations. Previous clients have

included Prada, Oxfam, Euro Millions,The Red Cross and Lionel Messi. Hefound his time at the NFTS a fantasticopportunity to collaborate with manytalented filmmakers and develop as acomposer. He now feels in a uniqueposition, prepared to enter the industry.

By the Grace of God (Composer)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

National Film and Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy


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E


Robert Evans [email protected]

Rob Evans and Michael O’Sullivan, thewriters, directors and animators onCrescendo, were both mature students atthe Skillset accredited course inAnimation at the University of Wales,Newport. Both enjoy storytelling throughanimation and were able to combine theirindividual skills for this production.

Rob Evans specialises in computermodelling and animation, and hasconcentrated more on personal projectssince graduating. He is currentlycompleting work on an animated shortand has been fortunate to have had adiverse and, at times, bizarre variety ofexperiences since graduation.

Crescendo (Animator)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

Skillset Screen Academy Wales

CRESCENDO

Michelle Eastwood [email protected]

Michelle’s love of storytelling led her to adegree in English at Oxford and while stillat university she started reading scriptsfor various companies. Straight aftergraduation she moved into feature filmand TV drama production, doing jobsranging from tea-making to productionco-ordinating a feature. Just beforejoining the National Film and TelevisionSchool, Michelle worked on a Channel 4Documentary and produced two shortfilms, one of which, Hesitation, wasnominated for a BAFTA in 2008. Michelle

has refined her practical, creative andbusiness skills at the NFTS, and hasproduced a large variety of projects,including a commercial, a book-trailer, aRaymond Carver adaptation and a longer,ambitious, experimental film. Michelle iscurrently developing her adaptationproject, Something Leather, and islooking forward to working on featurefilm projects with filmmakers of qualitywho have a certain edge and originality.


By the Grace of God (Producer)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1


G-H


11Lawrence Gough [email protected]

Kerrie Hayes [email protected]

As well as playing the lead in K I C K SKerrie is soon to be seen in Nowhere Boy,the story of John Lennon, directed bySam Taylor Wood.

TV includes: The Commander; Doctors;and Lilies, a six-part series for BBC 1.

Salvage (Director)Sun 21 June: 22:15 FILMHOUSE 1

K I C K S (Actor)Sat 20 June: 21:30 CINEWORLDFri 26 June: 20:15 FILMHOUSE 2

K I C K S

Salvage marks Lawrence Gough’s debutfeature film. He has previously directedsome impressive short films through hiscompany Hoax Films and support fromthe UK Film Council, winning awardsincluding Best in the Northwest and BestDrama, from the Cornerhouse Cinema.He trained as a professional actor but hisintentions have always been on directingfeature films. He is currently developinghis latest film The Drought, an ecologicalhorror, which is set in the UK during aglobal drought.

SALVAGE


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H


Stuart Hazeldine [email protected]

Stuart Hazeldine is one of a selectnumber of UK-based screenwriters whowrite for the major Hollywood studios.After selling his first screenplayUnderground at the age of 24, he wrotethe sci-fi TV movie Riverworld for the Sci-Fi Channel in 2003.

2007 saw him hit the industrystratosphere with a rewrite of theblockbuster sci-fi remake The Day theEarth Stood Still for Twentieth CenturyFox, directed by Scott Derrickson andstarring Keanu Reeves and JenniferConnelly, followed by a rewrite of thesupernatural thriller Knowing for SummitEntertainment, directed by Alex Proyas

and starring Nicolas Cage. He has justadapted John Milton’s epic religiousfantasy poem Paradise Lost forLegendary Pictures (300, The DarkKnight), to be directed by ScottDerrickson, and is currently adaptingJohn Christopher’s sci-fi adventure novelThe Tripods with Alex Proyas forParamount Pictures. In 2005, Stuartwrote and directed the twenty-minuteshort film drama, Christian. Exam is hisfeature directing debut, which he has alsowritten (from an original story by SimonGarrity and Hazeldine) and produced withGareth Unwin.

Exam (Writer/Director/Producer)Fri 19 June: 22:15 FILMHOUSE 1

FISH TANK


J


13Katie Jarvis [email protected]

Katie was cast in her first film role afterbeing discovered totally by chance by thecasting director of Fish Tank, having anargument at a train station in Essex. Castin the central role of troubled teenagerMia, Katie rewarded the filmmakers’ leapof faith with a performance of wit,sensitivity and intensity – one thatcaptures all of the contradictions andcomplexities of adolescence, and has

garnered her rave reviews. The film was screened at Cannes this year and itreceived an incredible reception, with allreviews picking out Katie’s amazingperformance.

Fish Tank (Actor)Sun 21 June: 20:15 CAMEO 1Wed 24 June: 15:00 CAMEO 1

Gerard Johnson [email protected]

Tony (Writer/Director)Thu 18 June: 22:00 FILMHOUSE 2

Born in 1973 in East London, GerardJohnson has always had a passion andambition for cinema.

After years of dead end jobs he finallyentered the industry as a commercialsrunner, but found more regular work at apost-production company. It was here thathe was able to develop his ideas and makeshort films completely independently,learning all he could in the process.

With actor and cousin Peter Ferdinando,Gerard created his first short film calledLone Man. From here a creative partnershipwas formed, which would be built uponthroughout all his future projects.

Gerard's next short, Mug, won the Big IssueFilm Festival award 2004, was distributed byBrit Shorts and caught the attention ofBAFTA winning writer/producer Paul Abbott.

Gerard then created a new character andfilmed it with Peter, some friends and ahundred quid over one weekend. The shortwas to be called Tony. On seeing the firstcut, Paul Abbott suggested they turn thecharacter into a feature film, which hewanted to produce through his new talentfocused company, Abbott Vision.

After an intense six month casting andrehearsal process, Tony was shot aroundthe East End with Abbott Vision and the UKFilm Council financing. Officially selectedfor Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2009 on the strength of a DVD fine cut,Tony was awarded the completion fundingneeded for it to be theatrically released.

Gerard currently has several new ideas invarious stages of development including The Trainer; Barking (with Paul Abbott) andHyena.


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K-L


Bryan Larkin [email protected]

Bryan began making short films while atdrama school in Glasgow to furtherdevelop his skills on both sides of thecamera. Finding passion in combiningboth crafts, he has emerged in veryrecent times with his productioncompany, Dabhand Films, which wasformed with fellow student MarcTwynholm to generate their own materialas actors. Their surprise acceptance tothe Sundance Film Festival with their firstshort film inspired two more, and in 2006Bryan won the BAFTA Scotland Award forBest First Time Performance in a film,which he also wrote and produced. Bryan has appeared in diverse film and television productions in Scotland,London and America, four of which willbe released in 2009. These projects

include: the lead in BBC sci-fi cop dramaTownsville; feature film Miles Away, an80’s road movie; The Red Machine, aperiod caper set in Washington, andDabhand’s very own powerful BAFTAScotland winning debut feature film,Running in Traffic, which he wrote, starsin and co-produced. The film receives itsWorld Premiere at this years’ EIFF. Today Bryan’s primary focus is creatingand developing new material forinternational collaborations, meeting newfilmmakers with similar vision and asever, learning new skills! Running in Traffic (Actor/Writer)

Mon 22 June: 21:15 CINEWORLDFri 26 June: 21:00 CINEWORLD

Tatiana Korol [email protected]

Tatiana was born and raised inKazakhstan, and moved at the age of eleven with her family to Germany. Aftercompleting her A-Levels at the HumboldtGymnasium in Ulm, she relocated toBerlin where she worked as an actress inseveral theatre plays.

In 2004, she moved to London andenrolled at the London College ofCommunication and there completed her BA in Film & Television studies.

Accepted on to the National Film andTelevision School programme in Film and Television Directing, Tatianacommenced the Masters course in January 2009.

Skillset Screen Academy at LCC & EIM

AKBULAK

Akbulak (Writer/Director)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1


M-O


15

Michael O'Sullivan [email protected]

Michael O’Sullivan and Rob Evans are the writers, directors and animators onCrescendo.

After working as a quality technician for anumber of years, Michael Keith O'Sullivanrealised this was not his true vocation,and as a competent draftsman, soughthis passion for animation.

Becoming a student on the animationcourse at the International Film School ofWales, Michael was able to develop hisskills, using traditional 2D drawntechniques to concentrate his studies onthe fundamentals of animation.

Crescendo (Animator)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

Skillset Screen Academy Wales

CRESCENDO

Justin Molotnikov [email protected]

Justin Molotnikov is an award-winningfilmmaker based in Scotland. He startedout making shorts 11 years ago, all ofwhich premiered at EIFF, and since thenhe and his work have picked an impressivecollection of awards and nominations –BAFTA, Scottish BAFTA, RTS, Celtic Filmand TV Festival, Directors Guild of GreatBritain, FUJI film award, Belfort FilmFestival, Kingussie Film Festival and BanffInternational TV Festival.

His work in TV ranges from children'sfavourite (My Parents are Aliens –Director) to prime-time drama (Taggart –Director), and from offbeat comedy drama(High Times – Director) to internationalfamily co-productions (Shoebox Zoo – Co-creator and Series Director).

Crying with Laughter is his debut featurefilm as a writer and director and it is aproject that he wrote and developedthrough improvisation workshops with the main cast Stephen McCole andMalcolm Shields.

Justin runs his own company,Synchronicity Films Ltd, along with Co-Creative director, Claire Mundell.

Crying with Laughter (Director)Sun 21 June: 20.00 FILMHOUSE 1Fri 26 June: 21:30 FILMHOUSE 3


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DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

Eva Pervolovici is a writer and directorcurrently based in Paris – part of theArtists in Residence programme at theRomanian Cultural Centre.

Eva graduated with a degree in FilmDirecting from the National University ofTheatre and Cinema I.L. Caragiale,Bucharest (UNATC) in 2007 and recentlycompleted the MFA in Advance FilmPractice at Screen Academy Scotland atEdinburgh Napier University.

Down The Rabbit Hole is her ScreenAcademy Scotland graduation film.

Eva’s graduation short from film school inBucharest, My Undone School Films hasscreened at festivals in France, Greece,Austria, Bulgaria and the USA and wonseveral awards in Romania.

She attended the 2009 Berlinale TalentCampus and took part in the ENGAGEprogramme, a MEDIA-funded traininginitiative for writers, directors andproducers focusing on creativecollaboration across borders.


Down the Rabbit Hole (Director)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

Eva Pervolovici [email protected] www.evapervolovici.com


Ralitza grew up in Bulgaria during thetimes of perestroika, the wisdoms ofwhich she still finds a source ofinspiration. In early life she studiedsculpture and photography, and later filmat the London College of Communicationand the National Film and TelevisionSchool in England. Her films havescreened at many international filmfestivals, amongst them Cannes, Berlin,London, Melbourne, and Telluride. In2007 her film Rotten Apple was awardedthe Prix UIP Best European Short Film atthe 57th Berlin International Film Festivaland nominated for the European FilmAwards’ 07, whilst her latest film By theGrace of God premiered at this year'sCannes Film Festival in the OfficialSelection, Cinefondation.

P-R


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Amy Rose [email protected] www.iamamyrose.com

Amy Rose is a director andcinematographer based in Edinburgh andLondon, working in both documentary andfiction. She makes character-driven filmsthat seek to tell stories with visual clarityand emotional depth – but with subtletyrather than a spade.

Kirran and the Hatchmaker is her firstyear film from the MFA in Film Directing atScreen Academy Scotland at EdinburghCollege of Art (eca); she is now in thesecond year.

Amy also works as a documentarycinematographer and currently is shootingtwo feature length films in Britain andNigeria for major broadcasters in Europe.

Kirran and the Hatchmaker (Director)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1


KIRRAN AND THE HATCHMAKER

BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Ralitza Petrova [email protected] Film and Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy

By the Grace of God (Director)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1


18

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Vanessa Stockley studied Art at BrightonCollege of Technology and Anthropology atUniversity College London. In 2005 sheattended the Summerdocs course at theNFTS where she made her firstdocumentary, Chasing Bev. With this filmshe applied to do the documentarydirecting MA at the NFTS which shecompleted earlier this year.

Emma & Ben will be broadcast on BBC2 inautumn 2009 as part of the Wonderlanddocumentary strand. Since Emma & Ben,Vanessa has made Soldier Girls: On theRoad to Afghanistan for Channel 4’s FirstCut, a documentary about women trainingto become officers at Sandhurst, whichbroadcast in March 2009. Sarah Dempsterin The Guardian wrote, “contemplative and

balanced, Vanessa Stockley's splendid film captures the complexity of the ‘pre-frontline army lady’ vibe, while allowing itssubjects to be simultaneously wise, girly,naive and insightful.” Vanessa is currentlyworking as Associate Producer on aninnovative animated documentary directedby Zac Beattie for Wonderland, as well asdeveloping her own projects.


Emma & Ben (Director/Director of Photography)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

Vanessa Stockley [email protected]

Kasia Sobocinska [email protected]

After completing the first year of a MA inJournalism at Warsaw's University, Kasialeft Poland and settled in London to focuson her filmmaking. In 2008 she graduatedfrom BA Film and Video at University ofthe Arts London, London College inCommunication, specialising in cinematography. While working onvarious projects, she is currentlypreparing for a photographic journey shewill commence in the coming months.

Skillset Screen Academy at LCC & EIM

Akbulak (Director of Photography)Trailblazing ShortsSat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

AKBULAK


S


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EMMA & BEN

Mikael Svartdahl [email protected]

Before coming to the National Film andTelevision School, Mikael worked withmany different visual formats for differentcompanies and as a freelancer, includingweb design, print design, multimedia andmotion graphics. He has directed andproduced title sequences for severalaward-nominated television shows andhas worked as a live production producer.He produced two live concert DVDs inNorway, one of them selling five times platinum.

To gain a more in-depth understanding ofstorytelling, he became a student on theMA Editing course at the NFTS in 2007.He says this has been eye-opening andgiven him a strong foundation to continuehis career.

Emma & Ben (Editor)Sat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1



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Kyle Ward [email protected]

Kyle has trained at the Carol GodbyTheatre Workshop. His career to dateincludes:

2007 ITV, The Street – Young Paul;

2008 Hoax Films, Salvage – Paperboy;

2008 Made Up North Productions, A Boy Called Dad – Robbie.

A Boy Called Dad (Actor)Thu 18 June: 20:15 CINEWORLDSat 20 June: 18:30 CINEWORLD

Momodou Musa Touray [email protected]

Momodou Musa Touray is a young andup-and-coming film director. Hegraduated from the prestigious ArtsInstitute at Bournemouth in June 2008where he specialised in film directing. Hisfirst short Mirrage was shown in filmfestivals around the world including theNational Film Theatre in London and theCamera Image Film Festival in Poland.His graduation film, Sweet Mother,recently won the Special Mention Awardat the Royal Television Society StudentAwards.

Momodou’s love for films started wayback in the Gambia when he was apractising print journalist. Afterrelocating to Britain he decided to pursuehis first love, which is filmmaking. Heenrolled at the Wigan and Leigh Collegewhere he studied Introduction toFilmmaking before proceeding to theprestigious Arts Institute at Bournemouthto pursue a filmmaking degree.

He has an unsurpassed passion forfilmmaking and the visual arts.

Bournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy

Sweet Mother (Director)Sat 20 June: 12:15 CAMEO 1Mon 22 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1Tue 23 June: 12 noon CAMEO 1

A BOY CALLED DAD



Edinburgh International Film [email protected]

Skillsetwww.skillset.org/[email protected]


Documents

Trailblazers 2009contacts and networking opportunities into the future – as well as enthusiastic public audiences at the Festival itself. We look forward to seeing our 2009 Trailblazers